Carl Sagan and Stormy Daniels: Workplace gems?

I Couldn’t Throw It Out

Treasures saved from past jobs spark memories of a scientist, a porn star, The Pet Shop Boys, The Partridge Family, and long-lost websites

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Man, do we ever spend a lot of time at work. That's one reason why I felt compelled to save things from the places I worked, to remind me how I spent so much of my time.

I always suspected that I wasn't the only one who did this. And now, I have proof.

Four friends -- who worked at various offices with me -- agreed to join in a little Swedish Death Cleaning, to decide what we should do with the treasures we saved.

The result: Some plot twists that I never would have predicted.

For instance, journalist Alan Carter, who worked with me at People Magazine, had forgotten that he reported a story about a 2007 porn convention. But the memories came back when he uncovered a pile of press badges, including his porn credentials. Suddenly, Alan remembered having a long chat with Stormy Daniels. Did he imagine she'd become famous world-wide? No. Was he wrong? Yes. And that's why it pays to save things.

Then there's former website manager Brett Mickelson – who now owns a Boston-area skydiving company called Boston Sky Dive Center. Brett brought out a photo of Carl Sagan, previously on display in the office that he used to share with me at NBC News. Why Carl Sagan? Well, only Brett can explain. But this prompted me to enlist a surprise guest who also loved Carl, but in a different way.

Unlike Brett and Alan, graphic designer Berndt Abeck – who worked with me on a redesign of Rolling Stone's website -- didn't save little things from work. Berndt saved only huge things. Specifically, massive 6-foot paintings of 1990s album covers for British new-wave bands, which are still on the walls of his San Francisco design firm Abeck Inc. Now that's what you call commitment to your savings.

Another graphic designer, Stella Anastasia, who worked with me at Entertainment Weekly's website, is now making greeting cards you can eat, with her New York company Tart Break. Clearly, Stella's got the genetics of a saver. She actually saved print-outs of all the website designs she created in the 1990s, depicting search engines and ancient technology that is now long gone. It's Internet history that would have been lost, if Stella hadn't kept it for future generations. Go, Stella!

Last of all, I decided to revisit an awkward gift from my days as a People Magazine reporter. The giver -- Marty Ingels -- was a well-known comedian. Plus, his wife actress/singer Shirley Jones – who starred in movie musicals like Oklahoma and Carousel and later became the mom on 1970s TV series The Partridge Family – was a kind of superstar. But – considering that you probably haven't heard of either of them – let this be a lesson. Fame is fleeting. Unless, of course, you give a gift to me. Then I'll make a podcast episode about it, and you'll live forever!

If you've got stuff you saved from work, dig it out! Share the memories with your own friends, and put your treasures on display. Or maybe – do better than we did – and throw them out?

Stormy Daniels photo: Lukeisback.com, CC BY-SA 2.5,

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